Study: an Apple a Day Really Does Keep Doctor Away

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Study: an Apple a Day Really Does Keep Doctor Away

Tue Nov 16, 2004 11:21 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An apple a day really does keep

the doctor away, thanks to strong antioxidants that

fight cell damage, U.S. researchers reported on

Tuesday.

Rat brain cells exposed to the antioxidant -- in this

case quercetin -- resisted damage much better than

those not treated, the team at Cornell University in

New York found.

Antioxidants are compounds that counteract the damage

done by chemicals known as free radicals -- generated

by sunlight, chemical reactions and the stress of

day-to-day living.

The researchers say their study adds strength to the

theory that the risk of developing Alzheimer's and

similar brain diseases might be reduced by eating

plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Writing in the Dec. 1 issue of the Journal of

Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the Cornell team said

they soaked rat brain cells in either quercetin or

vitamin C -- another potent antioxidant.

The cells were then exposed to hydrogen peroxide to

mimic the type of oxidative cell damage that is

believed to occur with Alzheimer's disease.

Brain cells that were treated with quercetin had

significantly less damage than the cells treated with

vitamin C and cells that were not treated with

antioxidants.

" On the basis of serving size, fresh apples have some

of the highest levels of quercetin when compared to

other fruits and vegetables and may be among the best

food choices for fighting Alzheimer's, " C.Y. Lee, a

professor and chairman of the Department of Food

Science & Technology at Cornell University, who led

the study, said in a statement.

" People should eat more apples, especially fresh

ones, " he added.

Lee said the skins of apples contain the highest

levels of quercetin so juice is not necessarily the

best source.

In general, red apples tend to have more of the

antioxidant than green or yellow ones, he said.

Other foods high in quercetin include onions,

blueberries and cranberries.